August

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People often ask us what our favorite WhoWhatWear.com story is, but we rarely give a straight answer. Officially, we take the Hef Defense and will only admit to loving all our bunniesÂ--er, storiesÂ--equally. Of course, secretly (or not so secretly now), we do have favorites. While all our content is near and dear to our hearts in some way, we particularly adore compiling our monthly Tips. Who could blame us? When you're featuring six very different girls with six very different fashion tastes, the results are usually quite inclusive and offer something for everyone. We think you'll find this month's compilation particularly delicious, as it includes a wide range of looks and suggestions for your shopping and styling pleasure. As you might have guessed, we had a great deal of fun putting everything together; hopefully you will enjoy it too!

Tip # 1: Look for a shoulder-emphasizing jumpsuit.
You've probably already noticed that shoulder-emphasizing styles are all the rage right now. But while the runways' exaggerated versions can be a bit overwhelming, it is possible to pay tribute to this look in a subtle way. For example, model Andi Musie wore a darling vintage jumpsuit to a Bastille Day party at The Jane in New York and looked super chic, not costume-y. By picking a onesie with slightly peaked sleeves, she acknowledges the latest trend without looking like a victim. For a similarly understated style, try Reality Studio's Poppy Overall ($427), which offers a modern version of the structured-shoulder look.

Tip # 2: Mix matte pieces with metallics.
We don't include musicians in our coverage nearly as often as we'd like (the paparazzi don't follow many of our favorites, argh!), but we were so excited to see Lykke Li on the red carpet recently. At the Manhattan stop of the Diesel U Music Tour, the Swedish singer/songwriter/super cool girl showed off one our favorite looks for fall: metallics mixed with mattes. Li's awesome outfit is all vintageÂ--save for her boots, which are by the Swedish brand, HopeÂ--but though it's impossible to replicate her ensemble exactly, it is a great one to use for inspiration. We'd start down the Li-like path with a similarly silvery piece of outerwear, such as bebe's Metallic Luster Moto Jacket ($119) or Diane von Furstenberg's Metallic Jacket ($285), thrown over our favorite little black outfit. Of course, the key piece required to finish the look is a turban. If you don't already have one, we suggest waiting for Rachel Pally's to-die-for version. It won't arrive at shopbop.com until early September, but it's worth holding out for, we promise!

Tip # 3: Find your perfect fall coatdress.
Amidst the sea of cowboy hats and backcombed hairdos at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville last month, one woman truly stood out: Karolina Kurkova. While most of her fellow attendees went for traditionally glamorous looks, Kurkova showed up in a devastatingly chic, cuffed-sleeve Azzaro Gentleman Tux Dress ($3170) styled with a sharp pair of booties, which we were delighted to learn are Aldo's Seace Ankle Boots ($140). The coatdress is going to be a big trend for fall, so start searching for your perfect style now. While most of the designer versions are exquisiteÂ--see Nathan Jenden's Wool Coat Dress ($1495) or Paul & Joe's Sleeveless Tux Dress ($610) for examplesÂ--they're also quite expensive. If you don't want to part with that much cash, we suggest trying Topshop's Premium Shoulder Pad Blazer ($160). It will give you the tailored look you want and is quite affordable, which means you can probably pick up Kurkova's exact shoes too!

Tip # 4: Use a trench to transition seasons.
At a recent party celebrating the first anniversary of 3.1 Phillip Lim's Los Angeles store, we spotted the delicately lovely Willa Holland in a Tips-worthy outfit. The actress reminded us anew of the versatility of a lightweight trench and how it's the perfect piece to wear between seasons. While Holland opted for Lim's Leopard Print Silk Trench Coat ($725) over her floaty tank and pencil mini skirt, there are some great traditional options in stores. Topping our list right now is the Gap's Classic Trench Coat ($88), as it offers loads of style for a limited amount of money. Wear it with your airy outfits now or just throw it on with jeans and an oversized button-down come fall!

Tip # 6: Upgrade your basic black leggings.
As we mentioned in Look Forward To: Fall Fashion Trends, embellished hosiery is a key trend for the upcoming season. In addition to elaborate tights and socks, we're also certain that detailed leggings will be on the rise as well, much like the lace-insert pair that Stella Mc Cartney recently wore to an art exhibition at the Established & Sons gallery in London. Unsurprisingly, McCartney wore her own Lace Detail Wool Blend Leggings ($1188), which are quite gorgeous, but you don't need to invest in a designer pair to achieve this look. Lots of lower-priced lines are creating excellent options at affordable prices. We like David Lerner's Lace Inset Leggings ($99), as they're the perfect way to update your leggings-focused looks!

Photo of Karolina Kurkova, from Wenn; Photos of Stella McCartney and Willa Holland, from Getty.